The Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria practice egungun, or masquerading, frequently. They see it as a way to get back in touch with their ancestors.
In the Yoruba city of Ibadan, Oloolu is a powerful egungun or eegun. Ibadan residents and residents know Oloolu very well. Women in particular tremble in fear when Oloolu is mentioned, supporting the claim that Oloolu is the most feared masquerade in Ibadan and one of the most revered in Yorubaland and Africa.
Because of its powers, history, and sacrality, the Oloolu masquerade is feared. Because Oloolu wears a female skull on top of its costume, women cannot view it. It is trusted that assuming a lady gazes at Oloolu, she will miss her feminine cycle and could try and bite the dust.
Additionally, it is believed that the first person Oloolu encounters will become ill and may die if necessary rites are not carried out promptly.
History of the Oloolu Masquerade According to the legend, a gallant warrior by the name of Ayorinde Aje went to war in Ogbagi, a town in Akoko in what is now Ondo State, with Oderinlo, Ogunmola, and Ogbori-efon and other Ibadan warriors.
No one could stand up to Oloolu, the town’s powerful war masquerade, during the war. Only Ayorinde Aje fought back against the masquerade and won. After that, he kidnapped the bearer of the Oloolu and led him to Ibadan.
The bearer refused to continue the journey, so Ayorinde Aje beheaded her and instructed her husband to incorporate her head into Oloolu’s costume. Women are not permitted to view the Oloolu masquerade because of this, which was how it began in Ibadan.
Every July, the Oloolu masquerade is held to commemorate the Oloolu festival, which is said to bring blessings to the land. Oloolu’s masquerade travels through Ibadan’s most popular neighborhoods, including Beere, Oja’ba, Popo-Yemoja, and others, for each performance.
No other masquerade is permitted to perform while Oloolu is out, or else it will meet its waterloo. According to legend, Oloolu was performing at a time when a masquerade known as Iponri-Iku was staged. Oloolu challenged Iponri-Iku because he was enraged by this.
We learned that Oloolu dared Iponri-Iku to pick up a mystical cowry that he had dropped on the ground. Iponri-Iku broke his spine and passed away as he sat down to pick up the cowry. From that point forward, no disguise dare challenge Oloolu.
The Oloolu custom forbids its bearer from meeting his woman for 30 days prior to giving birth. In addition, the bearer of the Oloolu costume—which includes various pieces of clothing, a net, a human thigh bone, and a female skull attached to its head to make it look even more terrifying—must not wear shoes or carry anything else during the display.
The woman’s skull is that of the warrior Ayorinde Aje, according to legend. Oloolu used to wear a mask that detected women’s presence in the past. But it was said that Europeans brought the mask to their land and lost it.
Oloolu is unquestionably Ibadan’s most revered, feared, and celebrated masquerade.